With summer in full swing here, backyard cookouts are abundant. We got your burgers, dogs, chicken and ribs. Bowls of macaroni salad, baked beans, chips and desserts are a plenty. And then there are the drinks. Now if you’re like me, there seems to never be enough ice at a party. And when you do use ice in a drink because it’s so hot out, it tends to melt fast and water down your drink. That is a HUGE pet peeve to me. Today we’re not delving into beer as traditionally beer is meant to be consumed room temperature; not cold. Did you know that? I didn’t until recently when I met up with a cicerone going for his certification. Apparently it is us Americans that decided to chill it and go with the old frosty mug thing. For me it makes no difference as I think beer is just nasty.
Shush, quit giving me that face. I just don’t like the taste of it. However what I do like the taste of is an ice cold drink in the summer that is not watered down. So with today’s Tuesday’s Tip with The Kitchen Whisperer, we’re going to be talking about Summer Drink Tips.
Fill a beverage dispenser with a cocktail, like grapefruit juice, white wine, sangria mix and seltzer. Freeze your drink mix in a container that can be pulled away easily (or just use a freezer safe plastic bag). When you’re ready to serve, remove the bag and place the frozen drink into the punch bowl. By doing this the drink doesn’t get watered down.
Not your Mama’s ice cubes
To keep your juices, drink mixes and even your iced coffee cold, make a double batch and pour one batch into ice cube molds. Freeze and then when you’re ready to have an iced coffee, instead of traditional water ice cubes, pop in a few coffee ice cubes. All the great iced coffee flavor without any of the watering down!
Make your own Iced Coffee Brew
I am not quite sure when this rage started but it’s like iced coffee is a huge thing. now. It seems everyone loves iced coffee in the summer. However there’s a trick to making it like those expensive coffee houses. YOu can just can’t brew it in the pot and refrigerate it. Why? It loses flavor. What you need to do is actually cold brew it.
→ Measure out your fresh ground coffee grounds and add water to it.
→ Stir and allow to steep overnight for 12 hours.
→ Next line a fine mesh strainer with a standard coffee filter and slowly pour it through there. This will take some time as the coffee will flow through slowly
→ Chill for at least 2 hours and you’re ready to serve!
→ And for a bonus, use the leftover used coffee grinds in a rub for steaks
Pesky Unwanted Guests (bugs)
Keep bugs out of drinking glasses by putting a paper cupcake liner around the glass and securing with a rubber band. Poke a hole in the top and insert a straw.
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